Lots of great hires this week. Congrats to United Way on hiring its new CEO Dan Leroy, HomeTrust’s new CIO Marty Caywood, Mountain Credit Union’s new branch manager Brad Brevard, and EXIT Realty Vista’s new team member Carlos Orozco.
Achievement
On March 28th the Rotary Club of Asheville membership and the Board of Directors will recognize Gary Jackson with a Paul Harris Fellow plus 1 honor. The club leadership determined that Gary demonstrated “service above self” during his tenure as Asheville City Manager and Rotary Club member. Gary served the Rotary Club of Asheville for many years in a variety of leadership roles and has left a positive legacy. He previously was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow for his past commitment to service and community
The Asheville Men’s Garden Club recently installed its Board of Director and officers for 2019 during the clubs annual meeting at Asheville First Baptist Church. The club, founded in 1940, this year celebrates its 79th year of community service in Asheville.
Announcement
Calling all community members. Buncombe County is launching a new Early Childhood Fund and plans to invest $3.6 million annually to improve outcomes for young children. Grants made through the fund will focus on access to quality early childhood care and education. April 11th from 3-4 p.m. is your chance to talk with members of the funding committee and weigh in on what you think is most important. If you can’t make the session, they still want to hear from you. Email your ideas, suggestions, or questions to letstalk@buncombecounty.org or fill out our form at buncombecounty.org/letstalk and include the subject line child care. Your suggestions and comments will be shared with the committee.
Next on the Mainstage, Asheville Community Theatre will present Alice in Wonderland by Eva Le Gallienne and Florida Friebus, adapted from the works of Lewis Carroll. Alice in Wonderland opens April 5, 2019 and runs through April 21, 2019 with performances Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 pm and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 pm. Tickets are available online at www.ashevilletheatre.org, over the phone at 828-254-1320, or in person at the Asheville Community Theatre Box Office.
Certification
Cassidy Moore and Beth Russo of Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity recently graduated from Homegrown Leaders program, a regional leadership and economic development program that develops and supports highly-motivated leaders who are committed to building regional collaboration across multi-county regions in the state. Homegrown Leaders is a program of the Rural Center and is sponsored by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and corporate, government and philanthropic partners.
Expansion
Faculty members in Western Carolina University’s Department of Psychology are looking toward enrolling the first students in the university’s new doctoral-level program in psychology following the program’s approval for accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The first cohort of students in the Doctor of Psychology in Health Services Psychology Program is expected to begin course work next fall. The student’s commitment in the practitioner-focused program will include two years on the Cullowhee campus engaged in full-time course work, followed by a one-year clinical internship of 2,000 hours. A thesis and dissertation also are among the degree requirements.
Hire
United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County has hired Dan Leroy as the org’s next president and CEO. Leroy founded Green Opportunities in 2008 and recently led the development team at NC Outward Bound School. Read more here.
Mountain Credit Union (MCU) announced the recent hiring of Brad Brevard as the Branch Manager of their Fletcher location at 3270 Hendersonville Road. Brevard brings several years of financial industry experience including in lending, team management, mortgages and member service.
EXIT Realty Vistas is pleased to announce that Carlos Orozco has joined its growing team of dedicated real estate sales professionals. EXIT Realty Vistas is a proud member of EXIT of the Carolina’s rapidly expanding network of independently owned and operated brokerages across the region.
HomeTrust Bank announced that Marty Caywood will assume the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer of both the Company and the Bank effective April 1, 2019. Mr. Caywood joined HTB in 1995 and has been involved in the organization’s technical and security initiatives for the past 24 years. In his new role, Caywood will be responsible for oversight of all information technology as well as back-office operations including Loan Servicing and Deposits.
Innovation
Thanks to a $60,000 grant from Duke Energy Progress, Asheville Community Yoga recently installed solar power. The solar power will sustain the 8,300 square-foot space, which includes Zen & Now, a pre-loved clothing shop; three studio spaces and two Healing Arts rooms; and Karma Café, a new restaurant opened by the nonprofit organization.
Opportunity
For more than thirty-five years, Nova Kitchen and Bath, Inc has provided quality design, service and installation to literally thousands of satisfied customers. They are seeking a qualified, experienced, tech-savvy kitchen designer with proven kitchen and bath design skills. For more information & to apply please click here: https://www.indeed.com/job/kitchen-bath-designer-b5d936beb63f0b5
Pardee UNC Health Care is accepting applications for its 2019 Junior Volunteer Program now through Thursday, April 11. The 2019 summer session begins at orientation on Wednesday, June 19, or Tuesday, June 25, and continues through Friday, Aug. 9. Applicants must complete the application form found online at www.pardeehospital.org/about-us/volunteer/.
Friday Staffing is looking for a Coating Operator, Packer, Machine Maintenance Apprentice, Collections Rep, Finishing Technician, Culinary Support Consultant, Executive Assistant, Order Picker, and Warehouse Laborer. For more information, call Angela Paskus at 828-684-8700 or go to www.friday-staffing.com.
Outreach
Aeroflow Urology will be hosting a diaper drive in partnership with the Diaper Bank of North Carolina to support the needs of our community. They’re looking for other community organizations to put out a box, provided by Aeroflow, for diaper donations to be collected. All donations will be given to children in McDowell County, which has the highest child poverty rate in WNC at 25.9%. Email rebecca.grissom@aeroflowinc.com to get involved.
There is a lot to celebrate since Food Connection began in 2015. 130,000 fresh meals have been diverted from going to the landfill and have been delivered to area agencies, such as Trinity Place Shelter for Youth, Haywood St. Respite Center, BeLoved Asheville, and more. Last year, Food Connection expanded from Asheville to include Black Mountain and Swannanoa, adding more food donors and additional food recipients. In December, operations expanded even further east to Charlotte, where 3,000 meals have already been rescued and delivered to feed the hungry.
YWCA of Asheville calls on all community members to join in taking a Stand Against Racism this April. Stand Against Racism, in partnership with YWCA Associations nationwide, aims to build community among those who work for racial justice and to raise awareness about the negative impact of institutional and structural racism. This year, with a theme of No Hate, No Fear, Stand Against Racism focuses on immigration and racism, and the ways in which they intersect. Throughout the month of April, with the concentrated dates of Thursday, April 25 through Sunday, April 28, events are anticipated in nearly every state across the country including engagement in public policy and advocacy, community education, and public proclamations.
With the help of community sponsors in 2018 – 2019, the North Carolina Glass Center has offered 9 weeks worth of free glass educational programing to children enrolled in the Open Doors of Asheville program. Each week students participated in flame shop and hot shop activities building strong skills in studio best practices, safety, team work, and of course glass blowing!
AdventHealth Hendersonville is participating in Prevent Child Abuse America’s Pinwheels for Prevention® event by creating a pinwheel garden on the front lawn of its main campus. This is the second year for this event which will take place on April 1 from 3 to 4 pm. AdventHealth invites the public to join for this special event, show support and plant a pinwheel to help prevent Child Abuse.